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"The bank had found irregularities with thousands of pounds being put into it from an untrustworthy source. There were investigations and police were involved," said Mr Speed. The books and shirts were not recovered from Phillips, who was ordered to pay £164 compensation to the store.

He pleaded guilty to fraud by using the cheque to purchase religious clothing and books on June 16 last year. He was fined £108 with £300 prosecution costs and a £30 government surcharge.

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Derek Brown, mitigating, said Phillips served in the British Army and walks with a limp as a result of an accident while in Northern Ireland. He left the army in 2010 and became a reservist.

"He had been invited to become a magistrate, made the application but could not continue because of post traumatic stress. It seems that had a massive detrimental effect on Mr Phillips," said Mr Brown.

Phillips is living on "a meagre income" and has just been told his father has died in the Caribbean. Because he is suffering from depression, he is living on state benefits.

Mr Brown said Phillips had received "abusive calls" about the case and added: "He has always maintained he would be most willing to pay money to the shop for its losses."

Presiding magistrate Roger Murfin, who sat with two colleagues, told Phillips: "We have listened very carefully to everything that has been said and taken into consideration the mitigation put forward by your solicitor."